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MEMORANDA DRAMATICA.

DRURY-LANE.

THERE is nothing particularly to notice this month. The Travellers have made their way triumphantly hitherto; and their progress is not likely soon to meet with any interruption. A musical piece, by Mr. Dibdin, senr. called Broken Gold, proved to be mere dross, without a single particle of ore. The YOUNG ROSCIUS has added to his characters, Osmond and Zanga. Mrs. King, the widow of our favourite comedian, had a most profitable night on the 12th of February. Cherry, as a mark of respect to the deceased actor, furnished a little, piece, entitled Thalia's Tears, the effect of which was very pleasing.

COVENT-GARDEN.

AT this house Cymbeline has been brought out, but not with the splendour which attended its revival at Drury Lane, in 1801;* and Cibber's Love makes a Man, a comedy which never was excellent, and of which the manners are now either gross or obsolete. Master Betty has been introduced in Dorilas, a character not ill suited to his person and talents, but the tragedy (Merope) is cold and dull, and unskilfully adapted to the English stage. He has also played Rolla, for the first time, with very powerful effect. Mr. Pope, we are happy to say, has returned to the exercise of his profession on these boards. He reappeared in Othello, and was saluted with loud applause on his entrée. Since the first night of Arthur Griffinhoof's farce "We fly, by Night," there have been considerable alterations in it. It will therefore be necessary for us to see it again. Mr. Munden's severe indisposition has, at present, put a stop to the representation.

Mr. CUMBERLAND has a comedy in rehearsal, of which the report is very . favourable.

KING'S THEATRE.

THERE appears to be, with respect to the public and the operatic corps, managers, and performers, of every class, a most commendable contest for superiority, the one in reward, the other in desert. All that expence and excellence. can furnish, affords its attraction, and not in vain, as crowded houses constantly

attest.

Gl' Orazzi e Curiazzi still continues a favourite amongst the serious operas. The singing of Braham and Grassini, in this piece, is truly delightful. Such powers must, wherever exerted, for ever command applause. The science and chromatic execution of Braham are surprising; and it is perhaps yet more so to observe the effect produced by the skill of Grassini, whose voice has, in fact, but five notes. D'Egville's enchanting ballet, La fille Sauvage, also keeps its ground, and is seen with increased satisfaction.

The novelties, Argénide e Serse, a grand serious opera, and Tamerlane and Bajazet, an heroic ballet, afford a superior kind of entertainment. It must be allowed that there are some things which defy description, and amongst these may certainly be reckoned a fine Italian opera and an excellent ballet-this must be heard, and that must be seen, to form any just notion of them. We have simply to remark, that the music of Portogallo, in the first, and the taste, fancy

* See M. M. Vol. XI. P. 196.

and judgment of Mons. Rossi, in the second, are deserving of the highest praise. The performers do ample justice to the great merit of both pieces.,

MASQUERADES, KING'S THEATRE, &c.

AN English masquerade may perhaps be described in some such manner as a horse race. The latter, we are told, consists simply in " There they go." and "Here they come ;" and the former, as to its wit, is principally composed of "I know you! !" "Do you know me ?"-" Ha! ha! ha!" The masquerade given at the king's theatre, on the 13th Feb. was of course not wanting in this distinguishing quality of British liveliness and gaieté de cœur. John Bull, more renowned however for putting good things into his mouth, than for letting them out, at a short notice, made up for his inertness in the last by his keen activity in the first, when, at the usual hour, a plenteous supper afforded a fair field for the exercise of his peculiar talent, and the gratification of his peculiar taste,

Two ladies, of most elegant form and figure, and in deep mourning, attracted particular notice. Their wit silenced, and put to the blush, many a conceited coxcomb; and their raillery and high flow of spirits, spread universaljoy through out the circle in which they moved.

To say that masquerades are ill-suited to the genius of the English nation, is, on this occasion, to say nothing to the purpose. The English like them, (as we often perversely like what we have by no means the capacity to enjoy), and since that is the case, it remains with us merely to observe that at the Pantheon, on this night, the military band, the band of Savoyards, the illuminations and refreshments, were all liberally provided, well conducted, and creditable to the managers, If, after this, the masquerade resembled a modern opera, was admirably got up, splendid in effect and beautiful in music, but intolerably vapid and dull in dialogue, it was not the managers' fault. Whatever depended on them was there, and if Stupidity was occasionally seen figuring away very couspicuously, he paid his money at the door, and came in with the company.

ORATORIOS, THEATRE ROYAL COVENT GARDEN.

UNDER the very judicious and liberal direction of Mr. Ashley, these oratorios commenced on Friday, the 21st February, with a miscellaneous selection, chiefly, however, from the works of Handel. Mr. Ashley has evinced his taste in engaging Mrs. Dickons (late Miss Poole) who is a singer of the highest order. Indeed, her improvement, since we had last the pleasure of hearing her, is astonishing. Braham and Storace lend their great power in aid of this excellently regulated oratorio.

NEW ROYAL CIRCUS,

THIS theatre will most assuredly open on Easter Monday. It is on a much larger scale than before, and report adds, will be one of the most finished buildings of the kind. Cross, (and who more worthy?) conducts, as heretofore, the stage department; and five gentlemen (trustees) of known liberality, have the regulation of the finances, &c. We are convinced neither money nor exertion will be spared to render it highly entitled to public patronage, and that a phœnix has arisen, which will far eclipse, in brilliancy and beauty, its oft admired predecessor, to Mr. Jones (who still retains an interest in the Circus) we learn, in a winter

excursion to Manchester, evinced his accustomed attachment to public charities, by giving a night at the Circus there to Lloyd's fund, which netted upwards of fifty pounds.

ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE OF ARTS,

WITH various additional entertainments, will open on Easter Monday.— The elegant theatre in Wych-street, under the direction of the veteran Astley, is in a very forward state; and the theatre in Wellclose-square, conducted by his son, has been exceedingly successful during the winter season.

PROVINCIAL DRAMA.

Theatre Royal DUBLIN.-" Mark how a plain tale will set you down."Mr. Editor,-Your Dublin correspondent says, in the Mirror for December, the company is highly respectable. I deny it, for (one or two of the men excepted) we never had a worse. I spare my praise of Mr. Holman, whose abilities are well known in England. Of Mr. Talbot you also know something, but he is much improved in the line of genteel comedy, and what is called second tragedy; indeed "take him for all in all," he is an admirable actor. I cannot agree with your correspondent that Mr. R. Jones "stands unrivalled (with the exception of Lewis);" he is certainly a good actor, but far from excellent. Fullam, in the line of low comedy old men, is pretty good, but he is eclipsed by Grant, from Liverpool, who in that line is "a first rate." (I saw this gentleman some years age in England.) His Sir Pertinax Mac Sycophant is a rich piece of acting, and not to be equalled out of London; he has performed it twice, and is likely to become a great favourite in Dublin; but of this more hereafter. Putnam, in the walking gentleman, is very respectable, and is also much respected in private life. Of Williams I cannot speak highly. Lee, in the Irish characters, is passable. Johnson is but so so. We have a Mr. Stephens, from Edinburgh (in the room of Phillips); but surely the manager does not intend to pass this gentleman off to us as a first singer. Of the rest of the men, Mr. Jones may say what Falstaff did of his recruits, " If I am not ashamed of them, I am a soused gurnet," at least so say the Dublin public. Mrs. Edwin is at the head of our ladies; and in Mrs. Jordan's line she is not to be equalled on any stage: this lady has had many offers from London, which, if she accept, "We ne'er shall Look upon her like again." Mrs. Nunn is our first singer; her voice is tolerable, but her person and acting are indifferent. Mrs. Cooke is a pretty little singer. A Miss Macauley, from Belfast, has been playing some of our first characters in tragedy. Your correspondent says she is "an actress of much pathos and much promise." I have not been able to perceive either. Miss Walstein is a Mrs. Siddons compared to her. A Miss Sheridan has attempted some first characters in tragedy, but "she has yet much to learn" Of the rest of our ladies, I shall not hurt their feelings by giving you my opinion; but I shall recommend to Mr. Jones to procure us a good tragic actress, a good first mau singer, and a good low

comedian (for we have none), or there will be a "beggarly account of empty boxes." As there is only one temple in this great city, the votaries of the drama must either worship there or not at all. A second theatre, however, has heen talked of; indeed I am told a gentleman in London is making interest with a certain Irish M. P. to get another patent. He has offered, it is said, £.10,000. I hope this will be the case; we may then expect, at least, one good company, for it is well known Mr J. clears £.10,000 per year, and lives like an emperor, while his performers are miserably paid. As long as this is the case, how can we expect a good company? I am,

January 15th, 1806.

A CONSTANT READER.

Theatre Royal NORWICH.-Our theatre opened this season without any considerable addition to its strength. The principal new performers are Mr. Thompson, Mr. Vernon, and Mr. and Mrs. Tayleure, the latter of whom I noticed in my letter which appeared in the Mirror for August. Thompson succeeds Holliday, and certainly far surpasses him; he has a very considerable portion of humour, which he does not suffer to degenerate into buffoonery. Vernon is not very capital; his figure is good, but his acting is inanimate, and his singing noisy and inarticulate. Mr. and Mrs. Tayleure are very good performers. Mrs. T. plays old women's characters in a very good style.

Since the company has been here we have had one of Shakespeare's best plays every week. Bowles has played Richard, Macbeth, Hamlet, and Shylock, I think Macbeth his best character; in several scenes he was particularly great, and throughout highly respectable. Hamlet is a part which so many performers have tried, and in which so many have been unsuccessful, that it is not much to be wondered, Bowles should have failed in giving an adequate representation of it. Perhaps no two actors ever conceived this character alike. I was rather surprised that Bowles should practice the old stage trick of throwing himself into a fine attitude, and knocking off his hat on the appearance of the ghost, whose first visit was neither sudden nor unexpected; it seems, therefore, absurd for Hamlet to put on the appearance of the extreme of terror and amazement. I think Mr. H. Siddons played that part of the character with more propriety and effect than any actor I ever saw, precisely because he did not practise any of those violent contortions and gestures so commonly used. Bowles appears to have studied this part with great attention, and in many seenes he was uncommonly impressive. Noble's Grave Digger is a first rate piece of acting, and Thomson was a very respectable Polonius; he did not degrade the talkative old courtier into an arrant fool. Fitzgerald's Horatio was rant and declamation from beginning to end. In some characters Fitzgerald displays strong traits of native genius, and his versatility of talent is so great as to render him an exceedingly useful actor in a country theatre. In tragedy he is too much given to rant. Bennett continues our principal singer. His singing, though not brilliant, is chaste and correct, and he does not offend by attempting the introduction of superfluous and disgusting ornaments. He obtained great applause in the performance of Tristram Fickle in the Weathercock, and he continues to act low comic characters with considerable humour.

Mrs. Aickin is an acquisition of great importance. She is an actress of

sterling merit, and pussesses the strongest claims to public favour and approbation. Her performance of Lady Macbeth was the best that has been witnessed on these boards for many years. Her voice and figure are well adapted to give that strong masculine effect to the character which it so much requires. I would not be understood that she is deficient in representing the softer passions; on the contrary, she has played several characters where feminine sweetness and delicacy are required, with equal success: her Ophelia particularly was a first rate piece of acting, and in the performance of it she gave several most exquisite and perfectly original touches.

It is not my wish to make the Mirror a vehicle for controversies, especially such as can be only locally interesting; I shall therefore conclude this letter with a short piece of friendly advice to Mr. Veritas, (a gentleman who did me the honour to censure my former remarks on our theatre in the Mirror for September last) which is, that he would employ his talents for dramatic criticism (and he appears to think himself possessed of no inconsiderable share) upon those exhibitions to which he adverts in the latter part of his epistle: here he seems quite at home, and here he most likely will not encounter the hazard of having his folly and his ignorance exposed. Yours, &c.

Norwich, Feb. 4, 1806.

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W.C.

Theatre SUNDERLAND. Our theatre opened for the season on Monday December 23, and continuing open every night till the 10th of February, then closed for the benefit of Mrs. Kemble. The season, take it "all in all," has not proved so lucrative as was, I believe, expected; yet I can venture to say, that Sunderland will feel sorry if it should so turn out. It is out of reason to expect full houses every night, although Mr. Kemble has done all in his power to give variety to the amusements. Most of the new plays have been got up. 66 Alzuma," a tragedy, by Arthur Murphy, Esq. was also brought forward, and shewed to advantage the surprising talents of Master Henry Pritchard, a wonderful boy of twelve years of age; an interlude, written by Mr. Kemble, called "The Coal Trade; or, Weel may the Keel row;" also one written by Mr. Brown, entitled * Transformation; or, The Sailor turned Irishman and Yorkshireman,” both of which possess much merit in plot and diction. Mr. Brown, in both pieces, appears to advantage; either as a seaman, Yorkshireman, or Irishman, he is always quite at home. The company consisted of Messrs. Kemble, Lindoe, Pritchard, Master Pritchard, Terry, Rees, Collier, Bellamy, Barry, Faulkner, John Faulkner, Wilkinson, Chamberlain, Bland, Spragg, Master Bland, Master Forbes, Brown (from the Lincoln company), Parkes, Masters Henry Pritchard (the Roscius of the north), J. Pritchard, G. Pritchard, C. Pritchard, and T. Pitt; Mrs. Kemble, Mrs. Pritchard, Miss Victoire De Camp, Mrs. Carleton, Mrs. Forbes, Miss Manessier, Mrs. Bland, Mrs. Pitt, Mrs Warwick, and Miss Pritchard, I shall speak only of those who are new to this town, and who have not been particularly noticed in the Mirror. Mr. Pritchard is still the same lively bustling man, and more than ever admired in comedy, but in tragedy he is by no means successful. Master Pritchard is a clever boy, and will be an ornament to the stage: he possesses a figure something like his father's, which is very fine;-he dances well, too, and is likely to be clever in the country

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